Apollo 8 50th Anniversary

Fifty years ago today the Apollo 8 mission was launched just four days before Christmas.

1968 had been a rough, tumultuous year.  We'd lost the Rev Dr.Martin Luther King, Jr and Sen. Robert F. Kennedy to assassins bullets.  Riots had broken out in several US cities.  Czechoslovakia got invaded by the Soviet Union and the Warsaw Pact to put an end to the Prague Spring.
The Vietnam War was raging, and the protests against it were ramping up.  Nixon was now the president-elect after LBJ declined to run for another term.

Despite all the national and international drama, NASA was still working to make President Kennedy's challenge to the country to land a man on the moon and return him safely to Earth before the end of the decade happen.

And this mission was critical to making the other goal happen with the clock inexorably ticking toward the end of the 1960's.

After launching on December 20 with astronauts Frank Borman, Jim Lovell and William Anders onboard   was one packed with historical firsts.   The first to leave Earth and set out for another celestial body.  Most importantly in that Cold War space race period, the first manned mission to orbit the moon. 

It arrived at the moon to start its ten orbits of the moon on Christmas Eve.   And then the got the sight and the photo of a lifetime, the famous shot of Earth rising above the moon.

They also sent a message from lunar orbit to the people back on Earth breathlessly watching the mission.



Seven months later, the mission that President Kennedy had set the nation on course to complete would be accomplished with Apollo 11 landing on the moon that July.

TransGriot 2018 NFL Picks - Week 16

The upset bug was in full effect during NFL Week 15, and I came with a losing record for the week as a result.  One of those upsets was the New England Patriots losing to the Pittsburgh Steelers to hand the Texans the number two AFC playoff seed. 

Merry early Christmas!  Thank you Steelers!

Now all my hometown ballers have to do to keep it is win their last two games against the defending NFL champion Eagles and the Jacksonville Jaguars or the Patriots continue to feel the holiday spirit and lose one more game.

But you got to start scoring touchdowns in the red zone instead of kicking field goals.   Make the defense's life easier. 

Speaking of making life easier, I've got to do better than a sub .500 week.   That probably cost me a shot at the 2018 NFL prognostication title with Mr. Watts.

Can't do anything about it now but regroup.   Let's get to it. 

Y'all know the drill.  Team I'm picking to win will be in bold print with the home team in CAPS.  Mike's Week 16 picks will be here at this link. 

Week 15 Results                                    2018 NFL Season Results
TransGriot  6-10                                     TransGriot     137-83-2
Mike             8-8                                     Mike              141-81-2


Saturday NFL Games
TITANS over Washington
CHARGERS over Ravens

Sunday Early Games
Texans over EAGLES
COWBOYS over Buccaneers
Vikings over LIONS
Falcons over PANTHERS
COLTS over Giants
BROWNS over Bengals
PATRIOTS over Bills
Packers over JETS
DOLPHINS over Jaguars

Sunday Afternoon Games
Bears over 49ERS
Rams over CARDINALS
SAINTS over Steelers

Sunday Night Game
Chiefs over SEAHAWKS

Monday Night Game 
Broncos over RAIDERS


. 

TransGriot Shut Up Fool Awards- The Shortest Day Of The Year Edition

For those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere, today is the shortest day of the year and the first day of the winter solstice.

It's the moment in which planet Earth's axis is farthest away from the Sun.  For peeps in the Southern hemisphere, that day happens in June.

This 2018 solstice is going to be extra special because it not only will be followed tomorrow by a full moon and depending on your local conditions, a meteor shower/.

Translation: It's going to get dark early tonight and it will be the longest night of the year..   After today, the days will gradually start lengthening by a few minutes every day until June.

We only have one more Friday after this one to choose Shut Up Fool winners in 2018.   I'll also choose my 2018 TransGriot Shut Up Fool of the Year on New Year's Eve.

The 2018 finalists will be revealed on Christmas Eve.

So let's get to this week's fool    Despite a long list of peeps I could have chose like Sucker Tucker Carlson, Ann Coulter,  Dolt 45,  Speaker Paul Ryan, and Franklin Graham for starters, this week's winner is Katrina Pierson.

Trying to deflect from this toxic waste dump of a POTUS and probably auditioning to replace Sarah Suckabee Sanders as press secretary propaganda minister, Pierson tweeted on Thursday that 'John McCain still refuses to answer questions about his role' in the dossier alleging many damning ties between Trump and the Russians written by former MI6 spy Christopher Steele. 

Um, girlfriend.  Did you forget that Sen John McCain DIED almost four months ago on August 25?

The Net didn't, and they are relentlessly mocking her clueless behind for it.

Since it's obvious your clueless conservabehind missed it, here's Meghan McCain's eulogy for her late father.




And one other thing.  Katrina Pierson, shut up fool!
   

Rooting For Fort Bend Marshall

My high school alma mater was messed with by HISD to the point that it no longer has high school athletics on campus.  But I'm still a high school football fan, just not to the level I was when my beloved Jones Falcons were in the hunt for Texas high school football glory.   

Yesterday started the Texas high school football championship weekend here in the Lone Star State.  It's a smorgasbord of Texas high school football, with twelve title games from Class A (six man) to Class 6A being played at one location over the next four days. with all the games being broadcast on Fox Sports Southwest.

It also makes it easier for all the collegiate recruiters to check out players they either have signed during the NCAA early signing period or spot one they may not have noticed previously that is a late football bloomer.

The championship games location are rotated between Houston, Dallas and San Antonio because all three cities have domed stadiums, This year and in 2019, all the games will be played at AT&T Stadium in Arlington 

In Texas high school football and basketball, the top four teams in each district make the playoffs.  Two teams are placed in the Division I playoff bracket, and the other two in the Division II bracket based in enrollment.

I'm always rooting for Houston area teams that make it to the title game in their class, and this year is no different.

The highly anticipated Class 6A Division I game on Saturday night has undefeated Galena Park North Shore (15-0) who rolled over perennial powerhouse Katy in their usual clash at NRG Stadium and also beat them in the regular season.   The Mustangs try to complete their perfect season against unbeaten DFW area homeboys Duncanville (14-0), who beat top 5 nationally ranked Allen in their march to the finals. 

In the Class 6A Division II game Saturday afternoon Beaumont West Brook (13-2) will take on unbeaten perennial East Texas high school powerhouse Longview (15-0).

In the Class 6A Division I game it's a clash of the unbeaten old versus the new kids on the playoff block.   The Highland Park Scots, the team with the most wins in Texas high school football history, that has played in some legendary games still talked about among Texas high school football fans, and is the alma mater of Detroit Lions QB Matthew Stafford, takes on Alvin Shadow Creek. 

The Sharks are playing their first year of varsity football, and are trying to attempt the feat their district mates Manvel failed to accomplish by winning a state championship in their first year of play.

The game I'll definitely be watching is taking place on Friday night in Class 5A Division II.
Unbeaten Fort Bend Marshall (15-0), who made a deep playoff run last year but fell short, tries to capture its first state title against (15-0) Aledo.  The Bearcats were upset in the state title game last year against College Station, and are looking to avenge that loss at Marshall's expense.

Aledo has more than few UIL championship trophies in their school trophy case, having won six state football titles in the last nine years.

Marshall is not only trying to complete an unbeaten season, they are trying to do so while grieving the loss of  their senior teammate Drew Conley days before their semifinal playoff game.

Conley was murdered by his uncle, and five days later the Buffs pulled out an emotional game against Corpus Christi Calallen last week 19-17 to punch their ticket to the Jerrydome.

The other reasons I'm rooting for Marshall is the school is named for the eminent Supreme Court justice, and their school colors are the same black, gold and white my Falcons wore.

The Buffs were recently visited by Houston Texans DB Tyrann Mathieu for a motivational speech.

We'll see if it worked for the Buffs tomorrow night at 7 PM.   Go Buffs!  Do it for Drew.  Bring that Class 5A Division II title back to the Houston area!.

TransGriot Update:  They hung with them for a quarter, but Aledo unfortunately beat Marshall 55-19 

Is NHL Hockey Finally Coming To Houston?

Another one of the things people don't know about me besides Renee Martin is that I am a serious hockey fan.   I learned how to ice skate before I attempted to learn how to roller skate. 

My teen self not only witnessed the first game of the Houston Aeros in the Sam Houston Coliseum as they beat the Chicago Cougars, I was a passionate fan of the team   The two time World Hockey Association Avco Cup champions had Gordie Howe and his sons Mark and Marty Howe on the squad. 

Unfortunately, financial instability helped kill this team.  They went through three ownership groups despite being a successful team on the ice.  The Aeros were not admitted into the NHL, and were disbanded when the two leagues merged in 1978 and the Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, the New England Whalers and the Edmonton Oilers were absorbed.

The Aeros 2.0 started playing as an International Hockey League expansion team at Compaq Center in 1994 and when the IHL folded in 2001, joined the American Hockey League.  That same year they also became affiliated of the NHL's Minnesota Wild and moved to Toyota Center to play their games in 2003. . 

Despite being ranked in the top 5 in AHL attendance and winning titles in both the IHL and AHL, the Minnesota Wild, who owned the team, decided to move them to Des Moines, Iowa in 2013..

Because Houston is the third largest city in the country and the largest TV market without an NHL franchise, we have repeatedly been teased and tortured with the NHL either considering expanding here or NHL teams having problems in other markets considering relocation to H-town, only to go somewhere else.

The Dallas Stars would also like that to happen so that we can start an instate NHL rivalry .

While the WHA Aeros were collapsing due to fiscal issues, the original NHL Colorado Rockies were considering moving to Houston.  They eventually became the New Jersey Devils in 1982.

The other NHL team that considered relocating to Houston but eventually set up somewhere else includes the Edmonton Oilers.  Back in the mid 1990's, then Oilers owner Peter Pocklington was battling with the city of Edmonton to get a better deal, and threatened to sell the team to then Rockets owner Les Alexander and move the Oilers to Houston.  That drama was happening about the same time that Bud Adams was threatening to move the NFL Oilers to Nashville.

That sale of the NHL Oilers didn't happen, and it probably led to why Les messed with Houston's chances to get an NHL team in the 1997 round of NHL expansion that eventually went to Nashville.   
And now, Seattle is getting the NHL's 32nd franchise to start play in 2020 once the renovations to bring Key Arena to NHL standards are completed.

With getting a team through NHL expansion being dashed once again, it appears that if Houston is going to get an NHL team. it's going to be through relocation.   We have an NHL ready arena in the Toyota Center and a diverse hockey loving fanbase ready to embrace our own NHL team instead of flying or driving to Dallas to see NHL hockey.

We have rumors that the Arizona Coyotes and possibly the Calgary Flames may be eyeballing a possible move to Houston. 

Both teams have arena issues, and more fuel was added to the rumors when the NHL Board of Governors voted to move the Arizona Coyotes into the NHL's Central Division, the same one that the Dallas Stars (and Calgary Flames) happen to play in. 

As to whether it will happen, not getting excited about until the announcement is made an NHL team is moving here and will playing its games in downtown Houston..

But I do have a suggestion if it happens for the team's nickname if it does. .   

Fort Bend ISD Naming School For Malala

Fort Bend County to the southwest of Houston is one of the suburban areas, like Montgomery County to our north that has experienced explosive population growth since the 1980's.  The Fort Bend Independent School District has been on what seems to be an almost nonstop building program to keep up with it.

Even better, it turned blue because of that explosive growth in the 2018 midterm elections

A new elementary school, the 51st in the FBISD, is currently being built in the Aliana community in the northwest part of the district.   After asking the FBISD community to submit a name for the new school scheduled to open in January 2020, a committee comprised of FBISD teachers, parents, students, community advocates, staff and an FBISD board member went through the nearly 100 names submitted to choose the name of the new school.

The school will be named Malala Yousafzai Elementary School, and it is one as a TK I am definitely in agreement with.   The Nobel laureate has been a tireless advocate for public education.

“Fort Bend ISD is proud to name Malala Yousafzai Elementary in honor of a true advocate for education. Our FBISD Profile of a Graduate outlines the skills and attributes graduates should possess upon graduation from our schools. Through her compassion for others and servant leadership, Yousafzai is an embodiment of these characteristics, which we are trying to instill in our students. We look forward to hearing of the many successes of the school and its students in the future,” said Dr. Charles Dupre, FBISD Superintendent of Schools.
The name for the new school was approved during the December 17 FBISD board meeting

Malala and her father are currently on a trip to Australia, and when they heard the news, were quite pleased with it.

This is such great and encouraging news," said Malala's father Ziauddin Yousafzai.  "I'm very thankful for this.  It's an opportunity for young students to get inspiration."

"Malala's name is known globally and now, for a school to be associated with Malala's name, it just shows that the spirit of education is being wholeheartedly promoted," he added..

As for Malala's thoughts about the FBISD action, she conveyed through her father that she was "quite glad" and 'grateful to the Sugar Land community for helping spread her message of education for girls.

She garnered international attention at age 15 for surviving an Taliban attack on her while traveling home from school.   A year later in 2013 she delivered a highly publicized United Nations speech that urged world leaders to make education a priority.    Yousafzai became the youngest person ever to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014

The attendance zone boundaries for Yousafzai Elementary are currently being determined by the district.

As for whether the Yousafzai's will be in the Lone Star State when the school is dedicated, Ziauddin Yousafzai said, "I cannot make any promises right now, but should we receive an invitation and are in Texas or nearby, we would definitely love to attend and meet these amazing people.

Um, FBISD, y'all might want to get on that ASAP.

Lesbian Publications Take A Stand Against Transphobia

Been noting the anti-trans rhetoric being published and posted in large part without concern for our trans lives or rebuttals from the trans people that it negatively impacts. 

It was nice to see several publications geared toward the lesbian community uniting to sign on to a statement  entitled 'Not In Our Name' condemning the media driven transphobia.

It's also in reaction to the transphobic content  and tweets being posted on AfterEllen, a lesbian site that was recently bought out and since its management change has become a cesspool of TERFism. 

Representatives of DIVA, Curve, Autostraddle, LOTL, Tagg and Lez Spread The Word have so far signed the statement.
*** 

Following further vitriolic attacks on trans people in our media, the world’s leading publications for lesbians are coming together to send an unapologetic message of support and solidarity to the trans community.

DIVA, Curve, Autostraddle, LOTL, Tagg and Lez Spread The Word believe that trans women are women and that trans people belong in our community. We do not think supporting trans women erases our lesbian identities; rather we are enriched by trans friends and lovers, parents, children, colleagues and siblings.

‘We do not think supporting trans women erases our lesbian identities; rather we are enriched by trans friends and lovers, parents, children, colleagues and siblings.’

We strongly condemn writers and editors who seek to foster division and hate within the LGBTQI community with trans misogynistic content, and who believe “lesbian” is an identity for them alone to define. We condemn male-owned media companies who profit from the traffic generated by these controversies. 

We also strongly condemn the current narrative peddled by some feminists, painting trans people as bullies and aggressors – one which reinforces transphobia and which must be challenged so that feminism can move forward.

We are really concerned about the message these so-called lesbian publications are sending to trans women and to young lesbians – including trans lesbians – and we want to make in clear this is not in our name.

 As the leading publications for queer women, we believe it is our responsibility to call out scaremongering conspiracy theories leveled at the trans community, and make it clear that DIVA, Curve, Autostraddle, LOTL, Tagg and Lez Spread The Word will always be safe spaces for the trans community.  

 Forty years ago, to be a lesbian was to be questioned and persecuted. Today things are better for cis lesbians but there are still places where to be a lesbian is impossible.

 So it is for trans men and women, as well as non-binary people, many of whom identify as lesbian, bisexual, gay or queer. We know something of these struggles. And just as they and other allies have supported us, so we must support those among us who are trans, or risk ending up on the wrong side of history.

 The sooner we stop focusing on what divides us and instead focus on our commonalities, the stronger we will be to confront the other injustices imposed on us.

We won’t be divided.

Signed…

Carrie Lyell

Editor, DIVA magazine

Linda Riley

Publisher, DIVA magazine

Riese Bernard

Co-founder and editor-in-chief, Autostraddle

Merryn Johns, 

Editor, Curve 

Silke Bader

Publisher, Curve and LOTL

Eboné F. Bell

Editor-in-chief, Tagg Magazine

Florence Gagnon

Founder and publisher, Lez Spread The Word

I hope more sign on to the statement.in the coming day so that we in the trans community unequivocally know who stands with us.

Proud Of You, Angela!

"What an honor a pride to be part of the history of @missuniverse.  This is for you, for those who have no visibility, no voice, because we all deserve a world of respect, inclusion and freedom.  And today I am here, proudly representing my nation, all women and human rights."
-Angela Ponce 

While she wrote those words on her Instagram page in Spanish, they were clearly understood all over the world.
.

The eyes on much of the world were turned to Bangkok and the 2018 Miss Universe Pageant to see if Angela Ponce could become the first ever trans feminine Miss Universe.

And yeah, admit it. Some of you were tearing up like I was when she made that solo walk on the Miss Universe stage last night to a standing ovation. .

Heavy favorite Catriona Gray of the Philippines was one of the last two women standing onstage at Miss World two years ago and didn't win.    The 24 year old had a much happier result this time, becoming the fourth Filipina to capture the crown 

While Ponce didn't make it to the Top 20 semifinalists, can't say enough how proud I am, trans feminine kids, and trans women around the world are that a girl like us was repping her country and us in the world's premiere beauty pageant.

Yes, elements of you hate on trans feminine women for irrational reasons.   Elements of you also hate on beauty pageants for a lot of reasons. 

For the trans feminine people who compete in them, pageants are a way to have who we are and have always known ourselves to be affirmed to the entire world.

Many trans feminine pageant contestants have been standing a lot taller this week knowing that a girl like us achieved a dream many of them had to one day compete in a premiere pageant like Miss Universe.

Trans women around the world were also standing a little taller as well.

Angela Ponce shook off the haters and represented us with class and dignity from the moment she won Miss Spain in June to competing in Miss Universe.   And while we didn't get to see trans history made on that Bangkok stage last night. it's just a matter of time before some trans girl walks away from a future Miss Universe pageant with the crown.

And note to the willfully ignorant haters out there, trans women are women. 

Ponce said in the runup to the pageant, "I don't need to win, I just need to be here."

But by just being in this year's Miss Universe competition and being on stage, you won in so many ways not only for yourself, but an entire community.   It also by you being on stage expands the horizons for what trans feminine kids can dare to dream about and accomplish. 

Ms. Ponce blazed a trail and set a standard that a future trans Miss Universe winner must acknowledge when she does win that title   

2018 US Trans Murders- Updated List

Here's hoping that 2018 comes to an end at 11:59 PM on December 31 with no more addition to this list that has been compiled from January 1-December 31. 

We needed a list in which we actually counted people killed during a calendar year from January 1 to December 31 and not from TDOR to the next TDOR.

And here we are.   24 lives needlessly snuffed out before they could reach their full potential  It's past time for one of these murderers of trans people to get the death penalty for doing so.

As long as they feel they'll get a slap on the wrist or nobody will care about a dead trans person , they'll keep doing it.   I do, because trans lives matter.just as much as you cis ones to all who loved the people who have prematurely joined the ancestors

2018 US Trans Murders


Christa Lee Steele-Knudslien, 47, North Adams, MA
Vickky Gutierrez, 38, Los Angeles, CA
Zakaria Fry, 28,  Albuquerque, NM
Celine Walker, 38,  Jacksonville, FL
Tonya Harvey, 35, Buffalo, NY

Phylicia Mitchell, 45, Cleveland, OH
Amia Tyrae Berryman, 28, Baton Rouge, LA
Sasha Wall, 29, Chesterfield County, SC  
Carla Patricia Flores-Pavon, 26, Dallas, TX
Nino Fortson, 36, Atlanta, GA
Gigi Pierce, 28,  Portland, OR
Antasha English, 38, Jacksonville, FL
Diamond Stephens, 39, Meridian, MS

Catalina Christina James, 24, Jacksonville, FL
Keisha James, 58, Cleveland, OH
Sasha Garden, 27, Orlando, FL
Vontashia Bell, 18, Shreveport, LA
Dejanay Stanton, 24, Chicago, IL
Shantee Tucker, 30, Philadelphia, PA
Londonn Moore Kinard, 20, North Port, FL
Nikki Janelle Enriquez, 28, Laredo, TX
Ciara Minaj Carter Frazier, 31, Chicago, IL
Tydie Dansbury, 37, Baltimore, MD
Keanna Mattel,(Kelly Stough)  35, Detroit, MI

2018 Trans Murders Stats Breakdown
Female 23-Male/GNC 1)

By Race
White-3   (3 female-0 male)
Latina-3   (3 female-0 male)
Black -18  (17 female-1 male/GNC)
Asian- 0
Native American- 0

By Age

50+  1
40-49  2

30-39  10
20-29  10
10-19- 1

May they all rest in power in peace, and may the wastes of DNA who took their lives be caught, prosecuted and and incarcerated . . 

TransGriot 2018 NFL Picks -Week 15

In a weekend of Week 14 upsets, the most shocking one was the Miami Dolphins pulling off what is becoming a routine happening for them when they get to play the New England Patriots in Broward County.

They beat them. 

This time it took a miracle flea flicker play for it to happen for the Dolphins, but beat the Pats in Florida they did.  And should've gone with my instincts on that one.

Nevertheless, I persisted and despite a .500 record, won the week. 

Now we're in Week 15, which we'll have the last Thursday night contest of the season and two Saturday games.   One of the Saturday games involve my hometown NFL ballplayers, who will probably be very pissed off about the way they played at NRG Stadium last Sunday.   

Let's get to those Week 15 picks.   As per usual, team I'm selecting to win is in bold print with the home team in CAPS.    Mike's Week 15 picks will be here at this link.

Week 14 Results                                                           NFL 2018 Season Results
TransGriot  8-8                                                             TransGriot  137-83-2
Mike           7-9                                                              Mike          141-81-2

Thursday Night  Game
CHIEFS over Chargers

Saturday Games
Texans over JETS
BRONCOS over Browns

Sunday Early Games
FALCONS over cardinals
Raiders over BENGALS
Dolphins over VIKINGS
Cowboys over COLTS
RAVENS over Buccaneers
Lions over BILLS
BEARS over Packers
JAGUARS over Washington
GIANTS over Titans

Sunday Afternoon Games
Seahawks over 49ERS
Patriots over STEELERS

Sunday Night Game
RAMS over Eagles

Monday Night Ga,me
Saints over PANTHERS

Angela Ponce- Miss Universe National Costume Contest

Getting closer to the live televised Miss Universe pageant, but the preliminary contest will happen on December 13. 

All 94 contestants will participate in evening wear, swimsuit and an interview portion in front of judges.   The scores they earn during that portion will determine who the 20 semifinalists will be competing on Sunday. 

On December 10 the National Costume Show was held.  It's a Miss Universe tradition in which all 94 delegates get to choose a national costume that best represents the culture of their nation. 

Y'all know I'm rooting for Angela.   Here she is repping Spain



If you wish to watch the entire show, have the video here for you pageant junkies.

Raquel Willis Becomes Executive Editor At OUT Magazine

I'd heard Raquel Willis was leaving her position with the Transgender Law Center to move to New York, saw that she had posted it on her Facebook page, but didn't elaborate at the time why she was doing so. 

Now I know why she went from the Left Coast to NYC.  .

It was announced today that Willis would become an executive editor with OUT magazine  and in the process, become the first trans person in that role in the 25 year history of that publication.

“It’s an honor to be a part of this team and be a part of this new crew of queer and trans people who wanna shake things up, and bring in more color along with new perspectives,” she said in an interview with ESSENCE magazine.

And you better believe I'm extremely proud of her for being tapped by OUT to fill this new role.

Willis is still getting acclimated to her new position and what she wants to do to elevate the voices of trans people on OUT's pages, but I am looking forward to seeing what happens at the magazine.

Congrats Raquel one making history, and I wish you nothing but success in your new position.

Kansas Trans People Suing State For Right To Change Birth Certificates

Kansas is one of three states  (Ohio and Tennessee are the other two) that obstinately refuse to allow trans people born there  to change their birth certificates under any circumstances. 

It's BS, so four Kansas trans residents filed a federal lawsuit on October 15 to change that unjust policy.   I was happy to discover but not surprised to find out that two of the four people suing are my Kansas based BTAC fam in Luc Bensimon and Nyla Foster

The lawsuit argues that the Kansas policy violates the due process and equal protection clauses of the Constitution.   It's also arguing that the policy violates the plaintiff's free speech rights.

The other plaintiffs in the suit are a transperson person identified as C.K., Jessica Hicklin, and the Kansas Statewide Education project (K-STEP)

The defendants are Jeff Anderson, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment; Elizabeth W. Saadi, the Kansas state registrar; and Kay Haug, director of the state’s vital statistics office, a unit of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment.
Bensimon said the state's unjust policy made it easier for people to discriminate against him, “on top of the discrimination I already confront based on my disability.”

“I’m here to seek justice,” said Nyla Foster, a transgender woman and one of the plaintiffs. “My birth certificate does not reflect the gender I identify as, and I’m here to correct it so I can move forward with my life.”|

At a press conference in front of the federal courthouse in Kansas City, Kansas, Lambda legal attorney Omar Gonzalez-Pagan explained why it was challenging the state's transphobic documentation stance.

"A birth certificate is more than a piece of paper.It's the quintessential identity document that follows a person from birth to death.  It must reflect a person's identity."

Gonzales-Pagan also pointed out that birth certificates can determine access to education, employment, healthcare, travel and impact the ability to obtain other identity documents.

Good luck to you in overturning this unjust policy.  Thanks Lambda Legal for having our backs again.

Number 24- Rest In Power and Peace, Keanna Mattel

I was wanting for Christmas no more trans death in 2018.   Unfortunately that is not going to be the case with three weeks left in this year.

We go to Detroit for our latest 2018 trans murder in the person of 35 year old Keanna Mattel. 

Detroit Police unfortunately found her lying dead in street from a gunshot wound on E. McNichols between Brush and Omira streets just before 6 AM EST.   A 46 year old male was arrested by DPD in connection with the shooting, which is still under investigation.

Keanna was active in the Detroit ball community, and was a beloved member of the House of Ebony.

Ironically just three years ago she had been interviewed and quoted in The Guardian in the wake of another Detroit trans sister who had been murdered named Amber Monroe.  .

The way we clean up our community is not to just throw people in jail. It’s to offer help, resources, jobs … helping girls get their GED.” 

Mattel is the 24th trans person we have lost to anti-trans violence  this year.   She is also the 18th Black trans person we have lost to anti-trans violence (17 female, 1 male).  She's also the 10th person under age 40 we have lost. 

Her Black trans life mattered.   When are Black trans lives going to matter to the rest of Black America? 

As of yet, no word on a memorial service, but will pass that info along when I receive it.

Rest in power and peace, Keanna.  We won't rest until you receive justice, and all of our Black trans  lives matter.

Pat Manuel Making History As A Trans Masculine Pro Boxer

Before transition, he fought in the 2012 US Olympic trials.  He's endured physical rehab, chest surgery, the fight to cut through red tape and get licensed as a boxer, and a multiyear journey to get to this point.

But tomorrow night, 33 year old Pat Manuel will step into a ring in Indio, CA  and make history.

"We keep being told that to be a high level successful athlete, you have to be born in a man's body." says Cyd Zeigler of Outsports. "and that anyone born in a man's body has an automatic advantage over anyone born in a female body.  People like Pat are showing that transgender men can compete at the highest levels against cisgender men."

"It is not just powerful for the trans community, but it really should open our eyes to the foolishness of the stereotypes we've always had about gender in sports." Zeigler continues.

"I'm not the type of person that is just going in there for a participation trophy, my goal is to win,"said Manuel. "My mindset isn't really thinking about the history of this.  It's more thinking about going in there and performing as an athlete."

He's correct about that point.  It isn't his job to think about the historic trailblazing nature of this bout.  Thinking and talking about the history of this event is my job. 

He'll become the first out trans masculine person to box professionally when he takes on Mexico's Hugo Aguilar tomorrow night.  Manuel has already fought an amateur bout as a trans masculine person back in 2016, which he won by decision in three rounds. 

It'll be interesting to see what happens in his first professional bout.

I hope that debut as a professional boxer is a successful one.